Beauty Blunders

We asked you for your biggest beauty disasters, and you didn't hold back -- find solutions from our Redbook experts.

By
Karyn Repinsky and A. J. Hanley

Jan 11, 2002

Beauty Blunder #1: I bought a hair dye because I loved the color of the model's hair on the front of the box. Why didn't my new color look anything like hers?

Beauty Rx: Probably because you and the model on the box don't have the same natural hair color. A better color guide? Use the one that's usually provided on the back of the carton, which shows how your hair color will look after dyeing.

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Beauty blunder #2: While bleaching my hair, I left the product on too long and burned my scalp.

Beauty Rx: Dandruff shampoo is the strongest on the market, says Yann Varin of his eponymous New York City salon. Next time wait at least 24 hours before you wash your hair, then use only a dandruff shampoo and conditioner formulated for colored hair, such as Nizoral A-D.

Beauty blunder #4: When highlighting with a cap, I pulled too much through and ended up Pamela Anderson blond!

Beauty Rx: Go see a pro, who will add some lowlights in a tone slightly darker than your natural color.

Beauty blunder #5: I broke out in a hideous rash after coloring my hair. What should I do?

Beauty Rx: Sounds like you're the one woman out of a thousand who is allergic to hair color (many are just sensitive to the stuff). To treat the irritation, apply an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream.

Beauty blunder #6: I popped a huge zit, and it wouldn't stop bleeding. How can I make the swelling go down?

Beauty Rx: Apply firm pressure to stop the bleeding, and use a cold compress or an ice cube wrapped in tissue to quell swelling. (Next time, don't pick!)

Beauty blunder #7: I plucked an ingrown leg hair, and it got so infected I ended up in the hospital for three days!

Beauty Rx: You can get a secondary infection from something minor, reports Helene Rosenzweig, M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at UCLA School of Medicine. Before attempting bathroom surgery, sterilize both the skin and the tweezers with alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, and apply a topical antibiotic afterward.

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Beauty blunder #8: I tried a home recipe for a papaya mask, and my skin turned fire-engine red.

Beauty Rx: Calm the irritation with a milk-soaked washcloth, then apply an OTC hydrocortisone cream to the red areas. Before you smear any new product on your face -- homemade or store-bought -- always patch-test it first on the inside of your arm.

Beauty blunder #9: I applied self-tanner unevenly and ended up with a streaky tan. How can I fix it?

Beauty Rx: Here's a little-known sunless-tanning tip, courtesy of Elaine Sauer of Mario Tricoci and Elizabeth Arden Salons: Massage mineral or baby oil into your skin to dissolve the self-tanner, then use an exfoliator.

Beauty blunder #10: I used a depilatory on my face, and it burned so badly I had to take it off immediately. Could it be because I'm using Renova?

Beauty Rx: You betcha. Both Retin-A and Renova make skin more sensitive, explains New York City dermatologist Doris J. Day, who recommends avoiding both of them for a few days prior to defuzzing.

Beauty blunder #11: After a bikini wax, the area bled slightly. Is that normal?

Beauty Rx: Some pinpoint bleeding is common in this thin-skinned area. A cotton compress saturated with hydrogen peroxide will stop it and prevent infection.

Beauty Rx: Waxing eyebrows can be very tricky because you have to be so precise, says aesthetician Joey Marangello (professionally known as Just Joey), who recommends tweezing the area instead. While you're waiting for the hair to grow back, sweep a bit of brow-colored eyeshadow over the bald spot.

Beauty blunder #13: After my last lip wax, I left the salon with an ugly irritation "mustache."

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Beauty Rx: Next time prep the area with powder so the wax grabs hair rather than skin. Then minimize any post waxing redness with an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream.

Beauty blunder #14: After a manicure, I developed an infection. How can I stop this from happening again?

Beauty Rx: Your best bet is to bring your own pre-cleaned tools (wipe them down at home with alcohol-soaked cotton balls). Also, tell the manicurist not to clip your cuticles, since they protect the finger from bacteria.

Beauty Rx: Remove the stain with a cotton ball saturated with a few drops of both lemon juice and peroxide. In the future, use a protective base coat.

Beauty blunder #16: After spending a lot of time in the ocean, my nails became really brittle.

Beauty Rx: Too much exposure to water can weaken your nails. Keep them short for a while, and always wear a base and top coat.

Beauty blunder #17: A flame from a gas stove shot up and torched my eyelashes! What should I do until they grow back?

Beauty Rx: Go faux with a strip eyelash. For the most natural look, opt for one with an invisible band (as opposed to a black band), says New York City makeup artist Lea Siegel. Try Ardell Invisibands.

Beauty blunder #18: I trimmed my bangs after I got out of the shower, and they're way too short. How can I do it right next time?

Beauty Rx: "Wet hair always looks longer, so you run the risk of cutting too much," says Joelle, senior stylist at New York City's Avon Centre Salon & Spa. Dry hair completely before sectioning off the designated bang area by clipping back the sides. Comb down through your bangs and stop just short of the ends to hold bangs in place. Begin to trim hair a quarter inch at a time from one temple to the other, stopping after each snip to check your work. Then layer the ends by loosely clasping sections of hair between your index and middle fingers and making tiny vertical snips every quarter inch or so.

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Beauty blunder #19: I got my hair tangled in a curling iron, and it took three friends more than two hours to get it out. I even had to cut off some of my hair! What did I do wrong?

Beauty Rx: There are two possibilities: The first is that you put too much hair in the curling iron, which makes it more likely to tangle. Or you wrapped the curling iron around your hair rather than your hair around the curling iron -- a seemingly minor detail but one that makes a big difference in preventing tress distress.

Beauty blunder #20: I tried to curl my still-damp bangs with an iron. The next thing I knew, they were gone! What happened?

Beauty Rx: Ever hear a sizzle when you're ironing a damp piece of clothing? That's exactly what you did to your bangs. Curling irons should only be used on completely dry hair, says Yann Varin of the Yann Varin Salon in New York City.

Beauty blunder #21: While giving me a home perm, my sister had me leave the curl enhancer in all night. The next day my hair was mushy and frizzy. Help!

Beauty blunder #22: I permed my hair at home, and one side came out kinky while the other side was a loose wave. What did I do wrong?

Beauty Rx: According to Howse, it sounds like you wrapped your hair using a different tension on each side, a common problem since we don't have equal coordination in our right and left hands. The solution: Have a friend do the wrapping.

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